Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest-Chapter 562 152.3 - Finally Free (?)

Alfred felt a chill run down his spine as he caught the gleam in Maya's eyes. It was the same crimson hue that had unnerved him during the airship encounter. That brief moment when her composed demeanor had slipped, revealing something far darker, something lurking beneath the surface.

Her smile, wide and unsettling, only amplified the unease. He hadn't seen her like this in quite some time. The way her words lingered in the air, laced with obsession, made him question how far his Lady was willing to go to ensure this individual remained by her side.

For the first time in years, Alfred, the ever-composed butler, felt a flicker of intimidation from the girl he had watched grow into a refined woman.

"Isn't it better to keep things open for the person you hold dear?" Her voice was still smooth and gentle, but the undercurrent was unmistakable. "So that they can never leave your side."

He didn't answer immediately, his mind processing the shift in her tone. That glint in her eyes—he had hoped it was something fleeting, a phase, but it had resurfaced. And now, with the banquet and this unknown figure, it seemed to have gained strength. Could she be losing control of herself again?

Just as quickly as the unsettling moment had arrived, it vanished. Maya's expression softened, her usual serene smile returning as if nothing had happened. She exuded calm, but Alfred wasn't fooled. He had seen the darkness lurking beneath that composed exterior.

"You should take a rest, Alfred," she said, her voice returning to its usual gentle cadence. "You've done more than enough for today."

Alfred, ever dutiful, gave a slight bow though his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer. "Very well, My Lady. I shall retire for the evening. If you require anything, do not hesitate to call upon me."

Maya turned back toward the window, her hands clasped behind her as she gazed out at the forest once more, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere. "Of course, Alfred. Rest well."

With a final glance, Alfred exited the room, his mind troubled. The young woman he served with unwavering loyalty was slipping into something dangerous. And though his duty was to serve, he couldn't help but wonder how long he could watch over her like this without intervention.

As Alfred's footsteps faded from the room, Maya continued to gaze out at the vast expanse of the sky. The twilight was settling in, casting hues of purple and gold over the horizon, a serene contrast to the storm brewing within her heart.

"It's time," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "Time to introduce him to the family."

She had been considering this idea for a while already, but she did not have any opportunity to do so. She couldn't find the correct time interval or reason to call him to her household.

While her relationship with her Junior was different from a usual relationship, the things that she knew about him were still limited to quite an extent. And she felt that if she were to call him to her household, that would be akin to some sort of forcing him, which at that time she did not like.

SLEAK!

Her fingers delicately traced the edge of the window, and for a moment, her eyes softened, her expression one of pure, almost childlike joy. But beneath that purity was something else—something darker, fueled by a desire that had grown stronger with each passing day.

'It's a pity that Father and Mother aren't here,' she thought, her smile faltering slightly. The absence of her parents made things more complicated. Though she could understand it given the reasons….

But her brother—yes, he would be here. He would understand, and he would see what she saw in Astron.

Her gaze darkened, filled with longing and obsession. 'At the very least, presenting him to my brother should be fine. He'll come to accept him… once he sees how important he is to me.'

Maya's smile, though radiant, was now tainted with a possessive desire. She felt her heart throb with anticipation, excitement coursing through her veins at the thought of finally bringing Astron into her world.

With a slow, deliberate movement, she reached for her smartwatch. The sleek device responded immediately, lighting up in her hand as she navigated through the contacts. She found his name—Junior—and, without hesitation, initiated the call.

As the device rang, she could already imagine his calm, composed voice answering her. She wanted to hear him, to feel the connection that only he could provide. It was time to bring him closer, closer to her, to the life she had carefully crafted for him—whether he realized it or not.

The call connected, and a soft click echoed in the quiet room. "Senior Maya," Astron's voice came through, steady and calm as always.

Maya's smile widened. "Junior. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."

"No, you didn't."

Maya leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly tapping against the surface of her desk as Astron's steady voice filled the room.

"Are you ready to come here, Junior?" she asked, her tone soft but carrying an air of expectation.

"I am," came Astron's calm reply.

Maya's smile deepened. "Good, then. Everything is ready from my end. It should be smooth once you arrive."

"Thank you, Senior," Astron said, his voice steady but sincere. "If not for your help, things would be much more difficult."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "You don't need to thank me, Junior. I don't mind. In fact," she paused, a playful lilt entering her voice, "I've been feeling rather bored and..."

"Your blood bags are almost used up, right?" Astron completed the sentence for her, his tone matter-of-fact, as if this were a normal conversation.

Maya's eyes twinkled with amusement. "That's right," she admitted, her smile widening. "I've been trying to save them, thinking I could stall until the academy starts again. I didn't want to trouble you too much, Junior."

There was a brief silence on the other end, the weight of their connection hanging in the air.

"You don't have to worry about that," Astron said evenly, his voice lacking the playfulness of hers but still carrying a certain level of reassurance. "I'll be there soon, and you won't have to wait long."

Maya's heart fluttered at his words, though she kept her voice composed. "I'll be waiting, then. Don't keep me waiting too long, Junior."

"....." There was a brief silence on his end. "Understood, Senior," but then came his calm reply, and with that, the line disconnected.

Maya placed the smartwatch down, her eyes lingering on it for a moment. The anticipation of his arrival sent a thrill through her. She couldn't help but imagine the moment he would step into her world, finally brought into the life she had been building for him—slowly, carefully, and with purpose.

'Soon,' she thought, her eyes narrowing with a sense of both longing and satisfaction. 'Very soon.'

*******

I woke up early, the familiar hum of the city vibrating in the background—the rented hotel room.

Today marked the start of something new—a necessary trip to the biggest Awakened Market in the Federation. My goal was simple: gather the tools needed for the next phase. But before that, I had some thoughts to sort through.

As I stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeted me, refreshing compared to the recycled atmosphere of my hotel. I made my way to the public transport station, blending into the stream of people. As I boarded, the transport quietly hummed to life, and I found a seat near the back, my mind already wandering.

Being a student at the Arcadia Hunter Academy had its perks, and days like these, they were hard to ignore. The moment people saw that crest, it was like a pass to anything and everything. Discounts, special offers, access to restricted areas—it was more than just a name. It was leverage. The Academy had groomed us for success, and the world knew it. Whether it was high-end weapons from private forges or limited-run alchemy products, I could always get the best of the best.

And let's not forget the alchemy stores. Some of the most sought-after products were barely available to the public. The only reason I had a steady supply was because of the Academy's connections. It was almost amusing how many doors opened just by wearing the Academy tracks. I guess that's what happens when you belong to an institution known for churning out the best hunters.

The transport slid through the city streets, weaving past high-rise buildings and bustling marketplaces. As I glanced out the window, I couldn't help but think about the ridiculous discounts that were always thrown my way. Ten percent here, twenty percent there—sometimes even more if the seller was particularly eager to impress. They knew that the students of Arcadia had buying power and, more importantly, that we were valuable customers.

'A little over the top, isn't it?' I mused, leaning back in my seat. But who was I to complain?

'Rather, I should buy everything before leaving.'

Since I will be going to meet with Senior Maya, I will not have any other opportunity to come to the biggest market in the entire Hunter world.

'If I want to finish my hunt successfully, I need to be fully prepared.' At the end of the day, whether it is a grown, fully-fetched dragon or not, hunting a dragon is something that is never easy.

That is why everything needs to be in place.

'Zhakorath…..That guy must not be alerted until it is the time to end him.'

The transport moved smoothly through the city, and I tapped my fingers on the window's edge, watching the world blur by. High-rise buildings towered above the streets, casting long shadows over the bustling marketplaces below. My mind, however, was preoccupied with more pressing concerns.

'Ten percent here, twenty percent there…' The discounts flashed through my mind, but I pushed the thought aside. I wasn't here for a shopping spree. I was here to prepare. Senior Maya wouldn't wait forever, and once I met with her, returning to the market wouldn't be an option for a while. If I was going to face Zhakorath, I needed to be ready. Completely ready.

'I should buy everything I might need before leaving,' I decided, leaning back in my seat. Zhakorath, a demon disguised as a human, had managed to slip through the cracks of the world for too long. Hunting a dragon, whether fully matured or not, was never a task to be taken lightly. But demons, especially those infiltrated into the human world? They were in a league of their own.

If there was one thing demons were particularly good at, it was being slippery. That's why Zhakorath hadn't been caught yet. Every time someone came close to pinning him down, he'd vanish, slipping into the shadows like smoke, only to resurface somewhere else. That's how they operated—always a step ahead, always calculating.

But this time would be different. This time, I'd make sure he wouldn't see it coming.

'The banquet...' I mused.

'It will mark your grave.'